Riana T’bara
sat back and stared for a long moment at her workcomp, one hand slowly massaging her forehead. The words and images strewn across the display refused to change no matter how hard she wished it so. On the small holo adjacent to her workcomp, the graceful silhouette of an Asari Huntress rotated gently, as if to give lie to those shattered, still images stamped “C-Security” that mocked Riana’s chosen profession. She’d seen countless patients, from all walks of life, and as many species, but some stayed with her far after her involvement ended. That was to be expected, of course, and her mother had warned her about it, and the toll it would take over the years. Riana had shrugged it off at the time, telling her mother that she knew sometimes she wouldn’t succeed, but that healing and restoring minds was worth it.
And then there were days like this.
I have been a healer of the mind and soul for more than a hundred years. And for all my vaunted skill and education, Goddess forgive me, I could not save her. Riana breathed deeply and tried to banish the
darkness from her heart. Sitting forward, she tapped a key with one elegant finger, and continued dictating to
her VI case manager.
“Asari Field Command has been notified regarding this case. Please append copies of my reports and relevant data to Citadel Security and the medical records department. While authorization for a weapon to be issued to a patient should be investigated, I am convinced that the outcome may well have been unavoidable, given the patient’s minimal response to psychotherapy and medication. I have queried Alliance ForceCom regarding the events at Tiptree, but given the state of communications, and the rapid evacuation, I don’t expect to hear anything soon. I have also provided as much descriptive information regarding the human female the patient discussed to ForceCom, as I can but I expect little results.”
Riana swallowed, seeing in her mind’s eye the image of a young human girl with honey-blonde hair sprawled among the ruins of a farmhouse. Her patient’s agonized mental state had seeped into Riana’s mind leaving a disjointed series of images from a waking nightmare. Smiling yet tired people around a table. That same table spattered with crimson, and other, more horrible things. Screaming people in the grip of husks. An asari, pallid face and black eyes huge with malevolence. A last image, the blonde girl, bloodied and exhausted, closing her eyes and turning away from the fitful glow of an asari’s biotic energy charge.
Pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes, Riana willed the images away with long-practiced technique. She sat up, briskly, determined to finish this case report and move onto the rest of her unending work. “VI, provide copies to the division chief, and senior resident…” Riana’s cultured voice trailed off as she noticed a small box nestled among the piles of clutter on her desk. “Hold dictation.”
Reaching over, she didn’t notice the formal markings until she had the nondescript box in hand. It was an effects box, something C-Sec used when returning valuables found in the course of their work. The small note attached was handscrawled, barely legible. “Thought you might know where these go. Kevali”.
Riana knew the human meant well, but she felt a stab of resentment towards him, the note and the box itself.
Throat suddenly tight, she flicked open the box and looked down at the softly gleaming ID tags, and an iridescent locket necklace. The asari gently opened the clamshell locket to reveal the holo images of two asari, seeming to smile at each other. Under each image was inscribed a name; Neaira…..and Aeian.
Oh, Goddess be merciful to to your huntress Aeian T’Goni. Siari bring her back in peace and hope….
For the first time, in a very, very long time, Dr. Riana T’Bara leaned forward and laid her head on the cool glass of her desk.
And wept.
Modifié par JackofStaves, 21 août 2012 - 10:41 .
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